Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE), an organization dedicated to eradicating smoking from Atlantic City’s casinos, has slammed Bally’s Casino’s denial of a pregnant worker’s plea to be moved to a non-smoking area.
Not an Uncommon Case
CEASE, which represents casino workers who no longer wish their health to be jeopardized by indoor smoking, contacted PlayNJ on the matter, explaining the organization’s outrage. Co-founder Nicole Vitola told the outlet that the woman in question was being put in an impossible situation. To make matters worse, this situation is not uncommon.
Vitola, who was also forced to work in a smoke-filled environment while pregnant in the past, expressed solidarity for the woman’s plight. She furthermore criticized Bally’s and the AC casino industry as a whole for forcing pregnant women to choose between their and their child’s health and their paycheck.
This is a failure of basic worker protections, and it’s time for Governor Murphy, Senate President Scutari and the rest of the New Jersey legislature to stop dragging their feet and take decisive action to protect the working people who keep this industry running.
Nicole Vitola, co-founder, CEASE
Vitola added that the pregnant woman who was denied her request to be put in the casino’s non-smoking area isn’t the only victim. The co-founder of CEASE reiterated the organization’s claims that tens of thousands of workers and their families are being put at risk.
Vitola concluded that this represents a dangerous and disappointing failure from the NJ leaders.
CEASE Continues Its Hard Work
CEASE continues its efforts to ban indoor smoking at New Jersey’s casinos. The state generally prohibits indoor smoking but is still keeping a loophole that allows certain establishments to dedicate a portion of their indoor area as a smokers’ area. However, this has created significant risks for the workers who are being exposed to second-hand smoke for hours.
While many workers and casino goers have emphasized their preference for smoke-free environments, many businesses have remained deaf to the complaints. Casino operators argue that going smoke-free would hurt their revenues. They have argued that a smoke ban would prompt visitors to go out for a samoke where they could possibly reconsider whether they wish to continue playing.
CEASE failed to convince the NJ Superior Court to back the casino workers and is currently trying to get local lawmakers on its side.
